Athletic Hall of Fame
The Gustavus Adolphus College Hall of Fame was established in 1978 at which time 19 "Charter Members" were inducted either as coaches or as athletes. As of the fall of 2022, 348 individuals (321 athletes, 16 coaches and 11 benefactors) have been elected to the Hall of Fame.
The former Hall of Fame room on the second floor of the Lund Center was originally partially endowed by the families of both Dwight Holcombe's (the only father/son combination holding membership in the Hall). The hardwood plaque upon which the individual plates are permanently displayed, now in the Hall of Champions, was donated by the family of former football coach and Hall of Fame member Jocko Nelson, who passed away in 1978.
Rebecca Wold Freeman
Basketball, Cross Country, and Track & Field
Inducted: 2013
One of the most versatile student-athletes to ever compete at Gustavus, Rebecca Wold Freeman was a three-sport standout in cross country, basketball, and track and field. Originally from Arden Hills, Minn., Freeman came to Gustavus in the fall of 1995 after spending one school year at Concordia College in Moorhead.
A naturally gifted athlete born with the quintessential frame of a runner, Freeman was poised, confident, and always carried a smile onher face as she soared effortlessly through the cross country course. She earned all-conference honors with a fifth-place finish in 1997, and garnered all-region recognition twice, in 1996 and 1997. Freeman also competed in the NCAA championships her senior year, finishing 36th overall to earn Honorable Mention All-America distinction.
On the hardwood, Freeman's athleticism shined with a jump shot that seemed as effortless as her stride. She was a three-year starter and two-time all- conference performer (1995—96 and 1997—98) who scored 844 points in 72 career games in a Gustavus jersey. Freeman graduated as the program's all-time leader in career three-point field goals with 136.
In track and field, Freeman was a mid-distance runner winning conference titles in the 1000-meter run and 4x800-meter relay indoors and earning all- conference accolades four times outdoors, once in the 800 meters and three times as a member of the 4x800 meter relay team. Freeman earned All-America honors with a fourth-place finish in the 800-meter run at the NCAA outdoor championships in 1996.
In the fall of 1998, Freeman was named the NCAA Woman of the Year recipient for the state of Minnesota and was flown to Indianapolis where she was honored for her outstanding accomplishments in athletics, academics, and community service.
After graduating magna cum laude in 1998 with a degree in elementary education, Freeman entered the Lutheran Volunteer Corps and was placed in Seattle, Washington, where she stayed for five years. Freeman then entered Luther Seminary in St. Paul and is now an ordained pastor in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, serving at the Spirit of Joy Lutheran Church in Sioux Falls, S.D. Becca lives in Sioux Falls with her husband, Sedge '98, and their two children, Stellan and Liv.